Hot stamping press constructions



Oct 21, 1969 M. scHwARTzBAcH HOT STAMPING PRESS yGONSTUCTCONS Filed Jan. 18, 1968 IM/ENTOR, Morton Schworzboch,

ATTORNEY.

t Oce 3,473,315 Patented Oct. 21, 1969 3,473,365 HT STAMPING PRESS CDNSTRUCTIONS Morton Schwartzbach, 89-06 218th St., Jamaica, N.Y. 11427 lFiled Jan. 18, 1968, Ser. No. 698,835 Int. Cl. 321i 9/18, 13/04 US. Cl. 72-451 5 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to hot stamping presses of the type wherein a heated die is used to make an intaglio impression in articles of work made for example of thermoplastic, wood, leather or of other similar materials which are relatively soft as compared to metal or glass, or which can be easily softened; such article being covered by a foil from which the die makes an inlay in the impression effected. In practical embodiments, the foil is automatically fed across the work piece, from olf a supply roll, during each return stroke of the ram.

Heretofore, in presses of this kind, the ram met the work with a forceful thrust and'violent impact which liaked metal foils, giving the inlay a granular appearance and consistency, inducive to peeling and curling.

It is therefore an object of this invention, to provide a novel and improved hot stamping press of the class mentioned, wherein the ram shall meet and enter the work with a gradual squeeze, thereby effecting an undamaged inlay and thus avoiding the objectional occurrences aforesaid. i

Another object thereof is to provide a hot stamping press unit which is adaptable to be incorporated as a station in existing machines through which the work is being fed for progressive machining operations thereon, so the heat stamping will not require separate handling, but will be done on each piece of work in the cycle of such machines operation.

Another object in providing the aforesaid unit, is to afford making a press having removable sections so assemblies thereof will give presses of different shut heights, or by which the shut height of any such press may be changed as requirement dictates.

A further object in providing such aforesaid unit, is to afford its mounting in such manner in association with a separate bed, so the press has no throat and thus made adaptable for all sizes of work.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved hot stamping press construction, which is reasonable in cost to manufacture and eiicient in carrying out the purposes for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this disclosure proceeds.

For one practice of this invention, there is a compact press unit adapted for association with any frame structure offering a bed plate to cooperate with its movable platen and thus form a hot stamping press therewith. This unit comprises a rearwardly extending elongated box frame at the front of which, an upright ram which carries said movable platen at the lower end thereof, is slidably mounted for vertical movement. Within said box frame is a substantially horizontally positioned swingably mounted pneumatic cylinder, whose piston rod carries the horizontal wrist pin linking the knuckles of a toggle which are pivotally linked to the frame and to the ram respectively. This unit carries the roller system to feed and guide the foil across the platen, olf a supply roll. The platen carries the heater mounting the die. The frame of this unit is adapted to be mounted in cantilever fashion atop framework, or in suspension above framework which presents a bed plate opposite said platen.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

FIG. 1 shows a side elevation of a heat stamping press unit embodying the teachings of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

FIG. 3 shows a front elevation of said unit, which is shown suspended and serving as a station, on a machine designed to perform other operations on the work. The foil supply and its control appurtenances mounted on said unit, are diagrammatically shown in dash-dot lines.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a press of which said unit comprises the operating mechanism and completes the C-frame.

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4, but includes an interposed section of frame, which section serves as a spacer to increase the shut height of the press so built up; such interposed section or more of same as may be required, being adapted to use with the operating unit of FIG. l; all stjcltions of such built-up press apparatus, being demounta e.

In the drawing, the preferred embodiment of the unit indicated generally by the numeral 15, includes essentially a box frame 16, housing the drive means denoted generally by the numeral 17, for the vertically movable ram 18, which carries the platen 19 at the bottom thereof, and said frame has mounted thereon a usual foil supply and feed system which is indicated generally by the numeral 20. When associated with frame structure as 21 offering the bed plate 22 for cooperation with said platen 19, or when ceiling-suspended as in FIG. 3 for cooperation with a bed plate 23 at a station of a machine through which work 24 is moving intermittently, the resulting assembly comprises a hot stamping press apparatus.

The box frame 16, in the embodiment shown, is a horizontally positioned, elongated, rearwardly extending member, having bolt holes 25 in its floor 26, to aid its mounting where required. Its front wall 27, has a heightwise slot fashioned with a dove-tail track 40, in which a counterpart 40' on the ram 18, is slidably mounted. There is a toggle system comprising a lower knuckle 28 and two upper knuckles 29, all linked on a wrist pin 30, which latter is through a clevis 31 at the end ofthe piston rod 32 of a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder 33, whose rearward end is pivotally linked to an eyescrew 34 on the axis pin 35; said screw being positioned through a partition 36 within the frame 16, and adjustably secured by the nuts 37, 37' thereon. The upper knuckles 29 are pivotally linked to the frame 16, on a common axis 38, while the lower knuckle 28, which is centrally between the upper ones, is pivotally linked to the ram 18, by the axis pin 39.

It is evident that movement of the wrist pin 30 to the right in FIG. l, will lower the ram 18 and the electric heater member 42 which is mounted on its underside to carry the die 43, and that upon movement of the said wrist pin to the left, will raise the ram. Any suitable means to accomplish this reciprocatory movement may be employed, but preferred is the use of cylinder 33 as herein shown, so the assembly presents a complete unit including its driving means. Valve control means to operate the cylinder, one complete reciprocation of the piston rod 32 per actuation of such control, being well known, and not claimed herein per se, no further illustration thereof is believed necessary. The return movement of the ram 18, automatically operates the nip rollers 44 of the system 20, to bring a fresh length of foil 45 between the Work 24 and the die 43, from off the supply roll 46, being also well known, and not claimed herein per se, it is believed that further illustration thereof is not necessary.

In operation, as the toggle opens upon movement of the wrist pin 30 to the plane determined by the axes 38 and 39, by movement of the piston rod 32 to the right in FIG. 1, at presumed uniform velocity, the ram 18 will move downward at decreasing speed, so when the heated die 43, at the very last part of the stroke contacts the work 24, (the foil 45 being of course between the die and the work), the work will not be struck like with a hammer blow of violent impact, usually injuring itself and the inlay, but will squeeze the work and gently gradually dig in, and of course will effect aninlay of the foil, free from damage, in the intaglio impression.

Being that the cylinder 33 in the embodiment shown, is not above the heater 42, its packings, gaskets and the like, are not subject to cracking or breakage due to becoming dried and hard because of a heat environment influence.

The unit may be mounted and operated in any position to suit its required association. In most installations, it will be upright as shown herein, and it is evident that it is adaptable for sectional build-ups, as for example, to give the press of FIG. 4 an increased shut height, a spacer section 2l', or a few of them as need be, may be interposed between the unit 15 and the press component 21, as shown in FIG. 5.

In a job shop and in manufacturing plants generally, there can be a number of these units on hand, for installations as the work on hand may require from day to day.

This invention is capable of various forms and numerous applications without departing from the essential features herein disclosed. It is therefore intended and desired that the embodiments shown herein shall be deemed illustrative and not restrictive and that the patent shall cover all patentable novelty herein set forth; reference being had to the following claims rather than to the specific description and showings herein, to indicate the scope of this invention.

I claim:

l. In a unitary structure for association with a frame presenting a fixed platen to constitute a hot stamping press therewith of the type wherein material of a colored foil positioned against the work, is inlaid in an intaglio impression being made by a heated die in the work, comprsing a frame having a front wall; said last-mentioned frame being adapted for mounting'onto other frame structure; said wall having a heightwise slot forming a track, a ram engaged in said track and slidable therealong and extending below said wall, a platen carried on the bottom of said ram, a toggle behind said wall, comprising upper and lower knuckles pivotally connected by a wrist pin; the other ends of said knuckles being pivotally connected to said wall and ram respectively, whereupon reciprocating said wrist pin laterally, the ram will reciprocate along said track, and means carried on the frame behind said wall adapted upon actuation thereof, to reciprocate said wrist pin laterally.

2. A unitary structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said means is a cylinder adapted to be operated by a fluid medium; said cylinder being positioned horizontal.

3. A unitary structure as defined in claim 1, wherein its frame is a box structure; said toggle and means being positioned in said box structure.

4. A unitary structure as defined in claim 1, including a separate frame structure presenting a fixed platen; the frame of said unitary structure being secured releasably on said separate frame structure whereby the platens are opposite each other; the combined frames constituting a C-shape.

5. A structure as defined in claim 4, including a spacer frame section interposed between and releasably secured to the frame of said unitary structure having the ram and to the separate frame having the fixed platen.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,327,710 1/1920 Hemstreet 72-451 1,709,323 4/1929 Rosenberg 101--27 1,898,782 2/1933 Littlefield. lOl-27 2,261,312 1l/l94l Tcrhune 72-455 2,370,416 2/1945 Polley lOl-27 2,620,727 12/1952 Packer lOl-27 3,198,168 8/1965 Grupe. 197-6.6

CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner G. P. CROSBY, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 72-455; 1GO-272; 101-27 

